Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a wire-winding technique for winding a rectangular
cross section wire member into a coil state.
Background Art
[0002] In general, a coated copper wire for forming a coil by being wound on a bobbin, etc.,
often has a circular cross section in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
In contrast, in recent years, a wire member called a regular-square wire has been
developed. The regular-square wire refers to a wire member having a cross section
with substantially a horizontal-to-vertical ratio of 1 : 1, that is to say, having
a cross section almost regular square in shape. It is known that a coil having an
extremely excellent characteristic can be obtained by winding such a regular-square
wire to form a coil.
[0003] That is to say, when a conventionally-used wire member having a circular cross section
is wound on an outer periphery of a bobbin, a gap inevitably occurs no matter how
closely the wire member is wound because of its geometrical shape. In contrast, a
regular-square wire can be wound in a plurality of tiers on a bobbin virtually with
no gap. Accordingly, the coil space factor of a wire having a circular cross section
is about 90.6% at the maximum (that is to say, gaps become 9.4%). In contrast, for
a regular-square wire member, a coil space factor of nearly 100% can be obtained.
Thus, in order to obtain the same magnetic field by turning on electricity of the
same current, it is possible to make the volume of a coil smaller.
[0004] Furthermore, in the case of a coil formed by winding a wire having a circular cross
section, as is apparent from the above-described space factor, since a heat-insulating
air layer occupies about 10% in cross-sectional area ratio of the tiered wire, the
thermal conductivity from the inside of the coil is low. Thus, there is a problem
in that the maximum current that can be supplied is limited by the heat-generation
value of the coil. In contrast, in the case of a regular-square wire, the side surfaces
of the adjacent wire member are closely adhered with each other at winding time, and
thus an air layer in the winding wire can be substantially zero. It is therefore possible
to maintain high thermal conductivity, and thus there is an advantage in that the
electric current supplied can be increased. Accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce
the volume of a coil to obtain the same magnetic field.
[0005] Incidentally, in order to make the most of the characteristic of a wire member having
a rectangular cross section such as the regular-square wire described above, the wire
member needs to be wound on the outer periphery surface of the bobbin with no gap
therebetween. In a conventional wire-winding apparatus, the winding of a wire has
been possible without requiring an accurate guide in particular, because the apparatus
winds the wire member having a circular cross section. However, in the case of a wire
member such as a regular-square wire, when winding is performed by the conventional
wire-winding apparatus at a high speed, a side surface of the wire member wound on
the outer periphery of the bobbin and the opposed side surface of the wire member
adjacently wound separate in the axial direction of the bobbin, or twist with each
other. Thus, even if the entire length of the cylindrical part of the bobbin is fabricated
to meet the width of the wire member and a predetermined turns of winding with high
precision, the winding for one tier might be completed without reaching a predetermined
number of turns. In such a case, an air layer is formed inside the wound wire, and
thus the advantage of the coil using a regular-square wire is lost.
[0006] Furthermore, in the case of forming a coil using a regular-square wire, it is a very
important problem how to correctly fold back the wire at both ends of the coil. That
is to say, when a wire is continuously wound in a plurality of tiers, in order to
form a stable coil, it becomes very important whether or not the winding is reliably
performed with high precision while suppressing gaps as much as possible when switching
from a lower tier to an upper tier. In order to achieve this, it becomes necessary
to increase wire-winding precision in each tier and to make the condition at each
folding back timing the same as much as possible.
[0007] In order to cope with such a problem, a patent document (Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No.
2000-114084) has disclosed a technique in which a wire member is wound on a bobbin while being
moved to one side of the flange of the bobbin using an inclined thin film by winding
the wire member on a thin film disposed on an outer periphery of the bobbin.
[0008] However, according to such a conventional technique, in the case of disposing a thin
film on the outer periphery of the bobbin, it is necessary to provide equipment such
as a cut-and-hold mechanism dedicated for the tin film. This causes an increase in
cost and results in a complicated wire-winding apparatus. Also, there is a problem
in that the cost of the thin film is added and the unnecessary thin film remains in
the coil as a product to deteriorate the appearance of the product. Furthermore, there
is also a problem in that it is difficult to wind the wire in alignment if the wire
is not properly disposed at the beginning time of winding a regular-square wire.
[0009] DE 199 07 973 discloses a wire-winding apparatus for aligning a rectangular cross section wire
member at a predetermined winding position on a rectangular bobbin.
DE 100 23 461 A1 discloses a wire-winding apparatus including guide members contacting a conductive
wire being wound around a winding frame to define the winding position of the conductive
wire.
JP-S63 195712 U discloses a wire-winding apparatus for winding rectangular wire as a single-tier
coil. And
DE 26 49 029 and
GB 1 564 142 disclose a multi-tier winding apparatus comprising a wire position detector including
a contact or for urging a wire to be wound around a drum portion against said drum
portion or a previously wound wire at the point where the wire is wound onto the drum
portion, and a transverser moving parallel to the rotation axis of the drum portion
for guiding the wire towards the drum portion.
Disclosure of Invention
[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of these conventional
techniques, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire-winding
apparatus capable of winding a wire member with higher precision when winding the
wire member on the outer periphery of the wound part of a bobbin or a bobbin-less
winding jig at a high speed.
[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wire-winding
apparatus according to claim 1. The other claims relate to further developments.
[0012] The wire-winding apparatus of the present invention allows, for example, to form
a coil having an
excellent characteristic by winding a rectangular cross section wire member such as
a regular-square wire having a rectangular cross section on the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig without making a gap. However, the wire-winding apparatus of the present
invention is effective also in the case of a circular wire particularly when winding
a first-tiered wire. In this regard, a rectangular cross section (which means a cross
section orthogonal to the axial direction of the wire member is rectangular) does
not necessarily refer to a regular-square cross section, but refers to a cross section
having an arbitrary horizontal-to-vertical ratio and includes a shape having corners
rounded off. Also, a "bobbin-less winding jig" means a jig which is separated from
the wound wire after winding a wire on the outer periphery of the wound part in order
to form a bobbin-less winding wire.
[0013] Furthermore, when the guide member relatively moves in the axial direction of the
bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig in accordance with the rotation of the bobbin
or the bobbin less winding jig, it is possible to regulate the winding position of
the rectangular cross section wire member with high precision.
[0014] Furthermore, the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig may have a flange portion
at least at one end of the winding
portion, and the guide member may suspend regulating (guiding, in other words) the
rectangular cross section wire member when the rectangular cross section wire member
wound on an outer periphery of the wound portion of the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig comes close to the flange portion. Thus, it is possible to prevent a problem
of the guide member from bumping against the flange portion, etc. In such a case,
after the guide member suspends regulating the rectangular cross section wire member,
the winding position of the rectangular cross section wire member to be wound might
become unstable. However, since the regulation is suspended at a position where the
remaining winding space of the cylindrical part is as small as possible, and the remaining
winding space is always the same, a folding-back point can be reached with a relatively
few number of turns (depending on the cross sectional size of the wire) and with the
same condition, it is possible to fold back toward a further outer tier stably.
[0015] Also, if the rectangular cross section wire member is wound in a plurality of tiers
on the outer periphery of the wound portion of the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding
jig, a side surface of the rectangular cross section wire member wound while being
guided by the guide member as a lower tier near the axis center of the bobbin or the
bobbin-less winding jig and a side surface of the rectangular cross section wire member
wound while being guided by the guide member as an upper tier on an outer periphery
of the lower tier are opposed
to each other in an axial direction of the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig (That
is to say, the contact surface of the guide member with the rectangular cross section
wire member of a lower tier is opposed to the contact surface of the guide member
with the rectangular cross section wire member of an upper tier in the axial direction).
Thus, when the winding is continually performed from the lower tier to the upper tier,
it becomes possible to wind both tiers of wire with high precision.
[0016] Furthermore, the guide member may include a first guide bar for guiding the rectangular
cross section wire member when winding the lower tier; and a second guide bar for
guiding the rectangular cross section wire member when winding the upper tier. Thus,
when the wire winding is continually performed from the lower tier to the upper tier,
it becomes possible to perform smooth winding operation by passing the rectangular
cross section wire member from the first guide bar to the second guide bar in cooperation
with each other.
[0017] Also, the guide member may be movable between a guide position for guiding a side
surface of the rectangular cross section wire member to be wound on the bobbin or
the bobbin-less winding jig and a retreat position outside of the guide position in
a radial direction, and the guide member moves from the guide position to the retreat
position before a winding direction of the wire changes on the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig. Thus, it is allowed for the rectangular cross section wire member to
be wound to the position at which the wire member contacts a side surface of the flange
of the bobbin, etc.
[0018] Furthermore, the guide member may be formed by a flexible plate member having a guide
part contacting the rectangular cross section wire member and a support part supporting
the guide part in a cantilever state, and the guide member may bend by receiving a
force from the rectangular cross section wire member being guided at the guide position.
Thus, for example, by using one piece of plate member as a guide member, at the time
of winding the rectangular cross section wire member in one direction, the guide member
can be bent by a resistance force at the time of guiding the rectangular cross section
wire member. Also, if the bending is eliminated when the guide member is moved to
the retreat position at guide suspension time, the guide member can be moved to the
guide position from that position, and thus it is conveniently possible to fold back
at the best timing and to capture the rectangular cross section wire member being
wound in the other direction to continue guiding the wire member.
[0019] Also, the guide member may be formed by a flexible plate member having a guide part
contacting the rectangular cross section wire member and a support part supporting
the guide
part in a cantilever state, and a support angle of the support part changes at the
time when the rectangular cross section wire member is wound in one direction and
at the time when the rectangular cross section wire member is wound in the other direction.
Thus, by using one piece of plate member as a guide member, it is conveniently possible
to change the support angle of the support member to appropriately guide the wire
by inclining the guide member in a resisting direction to a resistance force from
the guided rectangular cross section wire member at the time of winding the rectangular
cross section wire member in one direction, and by inclining the guide member in a
resisting direction to a resistance force from the rectangular cross section wire
member at the time of winding the rectangular cross section wire member in the other
direction.
[0020] Furthermore, the rectangular cross section wire member may be guided by one of the
surfaces of the guide when the rectangular cross section wire member is wound in one
direction, and the rectangular cross section wire member is guided by the other of
the surfaces of the guide member when the rectangular cross section wire member is
wound in the other direction. Thus, one piece of a plate member may be sufficient,
and thereby it is possible to simplify the configuration.
[0021] Also, it is preferable that the guide member moves in an axial direction in accordance
with the rotation of the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig.
[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig moves
in an axial direction in synchronism with the rotation thereof with respect to the
guide member.
[0023] Also, the guide member moves in a radial direction in accordance with an outside
diameter of the rectangular cross section wire member wound on the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig. Thus, it is preferable that appropriate guiding can be performed regardless
of the wire width.
[0024] Also, the bobbin may have a terminal and when the rectangular cross section wire
member whose one end vicinity is bound to the terminal is bound on an outer periphery
surface of the bobbin, the guide member presses the rectangular cross section wire
member to a flange of the bobbin. Thus, it is preferable that swelling and protrusion
can be restrained when winding a wire member having a high rigidity.
[0025] According to the wire-winding apparatus of the present invention, there is provided
a wire-winding apparatus for
continuously winding a rectangular cross section wire member on a bobbin or a bobbin-less
winding jig, the apparatus including: a rotational drive part for holding and rotating
the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig; and an axial-direction drive part for independently
moving at least two driven members in an axial direction of the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig in synchronism with the rotation of the drive part. Thus, for example,
one axial direction drive part may drive a nozzle for supplying the rectangular cross
section wire member as the driven member, and another axial direction drive part may
drive a guide member for guiding the rectangular cross section wire member on the
outer periphery of the wound portion of the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig
as the driven member. This allows the rectangular cross section wire member, which
is prone to disarrangement in winding, to appropriately be wound.
[0026] Thus, the driven members are preferably guide members for guiding the rectangular
cross section wire member to wind on an outer periphery of the wound portion of the
bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig. The axial-direction drive part may independently
drive nozzles for supplying two different types of rectangular cross section wire
members or more. More specifically, for example, in the case of winding a first rectangular
cross section wire member and a second rectangular cross section wire member having
different wire widths on one bobbin, a first nozzle for supplying the first rectangular
cross section wire member is moved by a first pitch corresponding to the wire width
of the first rectangular cross section wire member for each one rotation of the bobbin,
and a second nozzle for supplying the second rectangular cross section wire member
is moved by a second pitch corresponding to the wire width of the second rectangular
cross section wire member for each one rotation of the bobbin. Thus, it becomes possible
to appropriately wind rectangular cross section wire members of different types.
[0027] Furthermore, the wire-winding apparatus preferably further includes a holding mechanism
for holding and cutting the rectangular cross section wire member, and the guide member
moves integrally with the holding mechanism.
[0028] The wire-winding apparatus may also include: first holding means for holding a wire
source side of a rectangular cross section wire member; second holding means for holding
an end side of the rectangular cross section wire member; a rotational drive part
for holding and rotating the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig; and drive means
for moving the first holding means and the second holding means, and the bobbin or
the bobbin-less winding jig relatively with each other while maintaining the
direction of the rectangular cross section wire member of the wire source side held
by the first holding means and the direction of the rectangular cross section wire
member of the end side held by the second holding means. Thus, by maintaining a relationship
between the direction of the rectangular cross section wire member of the wire source
and the direction of the rectangular cross section wire member of the end part, the
wire member can be disposed on a predetermined position of the bobbin or the bobbin-less
winding jig in a state in which one side surface of the rectangular cross section
wire member is always in a predetermined direction without being twisted. Thereby,
it is possible to restrain the disarrangement of the rectangular crows section wire
member to achieve regular winding. In this regard, "maintaining a relationship between
the direction of the rectangular cross section wire member of the wire source side
and the direction of the rectangular cross section wire member of the end side part"
means, for example, maintaining a relative angle between the direction of the rectangular
cross section wire member of the wire source and the direction of the rectangular
cross section wire member of the end part. If such a relative angle is, for example,
within the range of ±45°, there is little possibility of causing the winding disarrangement
of the rectangular cross section wire member, and the "relationship" is considered
to be maintained in that case.
[0029] Furthermore, the second holding means may perform a binding operation of the rectangular
cross section wire member after the first holding means and the second holding means,
and the bobbin or the bobbin-less winding jig are relatively moved and at least one
side surface of the rectangular cross section wire member is contacted with the bobbin
or the bobbin-less winding jig. Thus, it is possible to prevent twisting of the rectangular
cross section wire member at winding time.
[0030] Furthermore, the drive means may independently move the first holding means and the
second holding means or may integrally move them.
[0031] Furthermore, the second holding means is preferably a cut-and-hold mechanism.
[0032] Furthermore, the first holding means preferably includes a pulley.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0033]
Fig. 1 is a top view illustrating a wire-winding apparatus according to a first reference
example.
Fig. 2 is a top view illustrating the wire-winding
apparatus according to the first reference example.
Fig. 3 is a top view illustrating the wire-winding apparatus according to the first
reference example.
Figs. 4A to 4K are diagrams illustrating an upper-half sectional view of a bobbin
4 shown together with a regular-square wire.
Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating a wire-winding apparatus 110 according to a second
reference example.
Figs. 6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating an upper-half sectional view of a bobbin
B, showing changes of a winding operation with the passage of time.
Figs. 7A to 7B are diagrams illustrating a variation of the present reference example.
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating part of a wire-winding apparatus 120 according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining a function of a guide member 125.
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating part of a wire-winding
apparatus 120 according to a third reference example.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[0034] In the following, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention
as well as of reference examples, each with reference to the drawings. The reference
examples are outside the scope of the invention as claimed but useful for showing
additional aspects. Figs. 1 to 3 are top views illustrating a wire-winding apparatus
according to a first reference example. In the figures, a motor 2 is fixed to a first
frame 1. A holding part 3 is attached to a rotational shaft 2a of the motor 2, which
serves as a drive part. The holding part 3 holds a bobbin 4 concentrically with the
rotational shaft 2a. The bobbin 4 has a cylindrical part 4a, which is a wound part,
and flange portions 4b, 4b formed at both ends in an axial direction. In this regard,
in the present embodiment, the length of the cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin 4 is
about six times the width of a regular-square wire W (refer to Figs. 4A to 4K).
[0035] At the same time, in contrast with the first frame 1, a second frame 5 is disposed
movably by an unillustrated drive source. A tension pulley 6 for guiding a regular-square
wire W, which is a rectangular cross section wire member continuously extending from
an unillustrated wire member source is supported by the second frame 5. Also, a guide
member 7 including two guide bars 7a and 7b is attached to the second frame 5. The
guide bars 7a and 7b of the guide member 7 are pivotable by an unillustrated actuator
with respect to the second frame 5. By the pivotal movement, the guide bars 7a and
7b are movable between a guide position (the position of the guide bar 7a in Fig.
1 and the position of the guide bar 7b in Fig. 3) for guiding the regular-square wire
W and a retreat position (the position of the guide bar 7a in Fig. 3 and the position
of the guide bar 7b in Fig. 1) for suspending the guiding.
[0036] Next, a description will be given of the operation using the wire-winding apparatus
according to the present reference example. Figs. 4A to 4K are diagrams illustrating
an upper-half sectional view of the bobbin 4, showing the changes of the winding operation
with the passage of time. Note that the outer shapes to the regular-square wire W
shown in Figs. 4A to 4K are exaggerated for easy understanding. First, when the winding
of the first tier is performed, the guide bar 7a is pivoted to the guide position
such that the regular-square wire W is positioned on the cylindrical part 4a of the
bobbin 4 and contacts the side surface of the left flange portion 4b in Figs. 4A to
4K in a state in which an end is fixed to an unillustrated holding device. In these
guide positions, the guide bar 7a is located in the inside of the radial direction
of the flange portions 4b, 4b, and
is kept in a state in which the left side surface thereof contacts the right side
surface of the regular-square wire W. In this regard, the lower edge of the guide
bar 7a may contact the outer periphery surface of the cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin
4 or may be apart from the outer periphery surface.
[0037] In this state, the motor 2 is driven, and the second frame 5 is further moved rightward
in Fig. 1 in accordance with the rotation of the bobbin 4. Thus, the wire-winding
operation is performed while the guide bar 7a is regulating the position of the regular-square
wire W, namely, while guiding the wire such that the side surface of the regular-square
wire W already wound on the outer periphery of the cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin
4 closely adheres to the side surface of the regular-square wire W about to be wound
(refer to Fig. 4A).
[0038] Here, as shown in Fig. 4B, after the regular-square wire W is wound on the outer
periphery of the cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin 4 five times, the guide bar 7a
functioning as the first guide bar pivots from the guide position to the retreat position
to suspend guiding (Refer to Fig. 2) in order to avoid contacting the right flange
portion 4b. In such a case, the guiding of the regular-square wire W by the guide
bar 7a is terminated, and thus the winding position might become unstable. However,
when the guide bar 7a retreats in a state in which a remaining winding space of the
cylindrical part 4a is very small, the regular-square wire W is guided with a certain
degree of precision between the right side surface of the regular-square wire W already
wound on the outer periphery of the cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin 4 and the right
flange portion 4b. Thus, the end of the wiring in the first tier (the lower tier,
here) is kept in a state having a very small gap and the folding back toward the outer
second tier (the upper tier, here) can be stably performed furthermore (refer to Fig.
4C).
[0039] Subsequently, for winding in the second tier, the guide bar 7b positioned at the
retreat position pivots to the guide position as a second guide bar (refer to Fig.
4C). In such a state, as shown in Fig. 4D, the guide bar 7b is located in the inside
of the radial direction of the flange portions 4b, 4b, and is kept in a state in which
the right side surface thereof contacts the left side surface of the regular-square
wire W (refer to Fig. 3). That is to say, the side surface (right in Figs. 4A to 4K)
of the regular-square wire W wound in the first tier near the axis of the bobbin 4
while being guided by the guide bar 7a is opposed to the side surface (left in Figs.
4A to 4K) of the regular-square wire W wound in the second tier on the outer periphery
of the first-tiered winding wire while being guided by the guide bar 7b in the axial
direction of the bobbin 4. In this regard, the lower edge of the guide bar 7b may
contact the outer periphery surface of the first-tiered winding wire or may be apart
from the outer periphery surface.
[0040] In this state, the second frame 5 is moved leftward in Fig. 3 in accordance with
the rotation of the bobbin 4. Thus, the wire-winding operation is performed while
the guide bar 7b is regulating the winding position of the regular-square wire W,
namely, while guiding the wire such that the side surface of the regular-square wire
W already wound in the second tier closely adheres to the side surface of the regular-square
wire W about to be wound (refer to Figs. 4D to 4G).
[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4H, after the regular-square wire W is wound on the
outer periphery of the first-tiered winding wire wound on the outer periphery of the
cylindrical part 4a of the bobbin 4 five times, the guide bar 7b functioning as the
second guide bar pivots from the guide position to the retreat position to suspend
guiding in order to avoid contacting the left flange portion 4b. Similarly, the guiding
of the regular-square wire W by the guide bar 7b is terminated, and thus the winding
position might become unstable. However, when the guide bar 7b retreats in a state
in which a remaining winding space of the second tier is very small, the regular-square
wire W is guided with a certain degree of precision between the left side surface
of the regular-square wire W already wound on the outer periphery of the first-tiered
winding wire and left flange portion 4b. Thus, the end of wiring in the second tier
(the lower tier, here) is kept in a state having a very small gap and the folding
back toward the outer third tier (the upper tier, here) can be stably performed (refer
to Fig. 4I).
[0042] Subsequently, for winding the wire in the third tier, the guide bar 7a positioned
at the retreat position pivots to the guide position as the first guide bar (refer
to Fig. 4I). In such a state, as shown in Fig. 4J, the guide bar 7a is kept in a state
in which the left side surface thereof contacts the right side surface of the regular-square
wire W in the inside of the radial direction of the flange portions 4b, 4b. That is
to say, the side surface (left in Figs. 4A to 4K) of the regular-square wire W wound
in the second tier near the axis of the bobbin while being guided by the guide bar
7b is opposed to the side surface (right in Figs. 4A to 4K) of the regular-square
wire W wound in the third tier on the outer periphery of the second-tiered winding
wire while being guided by the guide bar 7a in the axial direction of the bobbin 4.
In this regard, the lower edge of the guide bar 7a may contact the outer periphery
surface of the second-tiered winding wire or may be apart from the outer periphery
surface.
[0043] In this state, the second frame 5 is moved rightward in Fig. 1 in accordance with
the rotation of the bobbin 4. Thus, the wire-winding operation is performed while
the guide bar 7a is regulating the position of the regular-square wire W, namely,
while guiding the wire such that the side surface of the regular-square wire W already
wound in the third tier closely adheres to the side surface of the regular-square
wire W about to be wound (refer to Figs. 4J to 4K). Subsequently, the wire winding
is performed in the same manner. After the wire winding is performed up to a predetermined
number of tiers, the regular-square wire W is fixed to an unillustrated holding device
to be cut, thereby forming a coil.
[0044] In this regard, in the case where the flange portion is retreated in the axial direction
when the wire winding is performed on the end of the bobbin, it becomes unnecessary
to move the guide bar to the retreat position as a matter of course.
[0045] Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating a wire-winding apparatus 110 according to a second
reference example. In the figure, a motor 112 installed on an unillustrated stage
is attached to a frame 111 . The motor 112 has a rotational shaft 11 2a extending
in the vertical direction to the page surface. The motor 112 is movable in the axial
direction of the rotational shaft 112a by an actuator, which is unillustrated moving
means, for each installation stage.
[0046] A bobbin B is attached to the end of the rotational shaft 112a, which is a drive
part. A wire member W, which is a regular-square wire, is extending toward the bobbin
B through a pulley 113 from the left in Fig. 1. The wire member W passes under a small
pulley 114 immediately before the bobbin B, thereby reaching the outer periphery of
the bobbin B at a slightly upward angle to the horizontal. In this regard, the wire
member W may pass on the small pulley 114, thereby reaching the outer periphery of
the bobbin B at a slightly downward angle to the horizontal.
[0047] A guide member 115 is disposed above the small pulley 114. The guide member 115 is
formed by a flexible plate member made of metal or ceramic. The guide member 115 has
a support part 115a attached in a swingable relationship with respect to the frame
111 and a guide part 115b for guiding the wire member. Also, the guide member 115
fixes a follower bar 116 formed protruding sideward. The follower bar 116 contacts
a drive rod 117a of an air cylinder 117. The guide member 115 is urged clockwise in
the figure by a coil spring 118. That is to say, when the drive rod 117a of the air
cylinder 117 shrinks, the guide member 115 is urged to the guide position shown by
the solid line in the figure by an urging force of the coil spring 118. When the drive
rod 117a of the air cylinder 1 17 expands, the guide member 115 is moved to a retreat
position shown by the dotted line in the figure by the follower bar 116 being pushed.
[0048] Next, a description will be given of the operation using the wire-winding apparatus
according to the present reference example. Figs. 6A to 6D are diagrams illustrating
an upper-half of the cross section of the bobbin B, showing the changes of the winding
operation with the passage of time. The bobbin B has a cylindrical outer periphery
surface Ba and a pair of flanges Bb formed at both ends. The bobbin B may have the
flange Bb only at one end.
[0049] First, when the wire winding in the first tier is performed, the guide member 115
is pivoted to the guide position by operating the drive rod 117a of the air cylinder
117 (Fig. 5) such that the wire member W is positioned on the outer periphery surface
Ba of the bobbin B and contacts the side surface of the left flange Bb in Figs. 6A
to 6D in a state in which an end is fixed to an unillustrated holding device. In these
guide positions, the guide part 11 5b of the guide member 115 is located in the inside
of the radial direction of the flanges Bb, Bb, and is kept in a state in
which the left side surface thereof contacts the right side surface of the regular-square
wire W. At the guide position, the lower edge of the guide member 115 contacts the
outer periphery surface Ba of the bobbin B by the urging force of the coil spring
118.
[0050] In this state, the motor 112 is driven (Fig. 5) to rotate the rotational shaft 112a
together with the bobbin B, and at the same time, the stage of the motor 112 is moved
(moved by a width of the wire member W in the axial direction during one rotation)
in synchronism with the rotation of the rotational shaft 112a, and thus the bobbin
B relatively moves with respect to the guide member 115 in the direction of the arrow
in Fig. 6A. At this time, the wire-winding operation is performed while the guide
part 115b of the guide member 115 is regulating the winding position of the wire member
W, namely, while guiding the wire such that the side surface of the regular-square
wire W already wound on the outer periphery surface Ba of the bobbin B closely adheres
to the side surface of the wire member W about to be wound (refer to Fig. 6A). Since
the guide part 115b of the guide member 115 receives a resistance force by the guided
wire member W, as shown in the figure, the guide member 115 bends, thereby causing
a displacement in the axial direction between the guide part 115b and the support
part 115a.
[0051] Here, as shown in Fig. 6B, at the stage after the wire member W is wound on the outer
periphery surface Ba of the bobbin B a predetermined number of times (five times in
figure), the drive rod 117a of the air cylinder 117 is operated, and thereby the guide
member 115 is moved from the guide position to the retreat position to suspend guiding
in order to avoid contacting the right flange Bb. In such a case, the guiding of the
wire member W by the guide member 115 is terminated, and thus the winding position
might become unstable. However, the guide member 115 can retreat in a state in which
a remaining winding space of the outer periphery surface Ba is very small, because
the guide member 115 is a thin plate member. Accordingly, the wire member W is guided
with a certain degree of precision between the right side surface of the wire member
W already wound on the outer periphery surface Ba of the bobbin B and the right flange
Bb. Thus, the end of wiring in the first tier (the lower tier, here) is kept in a
state having a very small gap and the folding back toward the outer second tier (the
upper tier, here) can be stably performed (refer to Fig. 6C). In this regard, as shown
in Fig. 6C, since the guide member 115, which has retreated to the retreat position,
receives no resistance force by the guided wire member W, thereby causing no displacement
in the axial direction between the guide part 115b and the support part 115a.
[0052] Subsequently, for winding the wire in a second tier, the drive rod 117a of the air
cylinder 117 is operated, and thereby the guide member 115 positioned at the retreat
position is moved to the guide position (refer to Fig. 6C). At the retreat position,
the guide member 115 becomes unbent, and thus the axial direction of the guide part
115b matches that of the support part 115a. Accordingly, it is possible for the right
side surface of the guide member 115 to capture the wire member W folded back in the
second tier only by directly moving the guide member 115 to the guide position.
[0053] That is to say, as shown in Fig. 6D, the guide member 115 is located in the inside
of the radial direction of the flanges Bb, Bb, and is kept in a state in which the
right side surface thereof contacts the left side surface of the wire member W. Here,
the side surface (right in Figs. 6A to 6D) of the wire member W wound in the first
tier near the axis of the bobbin B while being guided by the guide member 115 is opposed
to the side surface (left in Figs. 6A to 6D) of the wire member W wound in the second
tier on the outer periphery of the first-tiered winding wire while being guided by
the guide member 115 in the axial direction of the bobbin B, and thus one piece of
the guide member can perform guiding in both of the winding directions. At the guide
position, the lower edge of the guide member 115 contacts the outer periphery surface
of the first-tiered winding wire by the urging force of the coil spring 118. That
is to say, the guide position of the second tier is moved by the diameter of the wire
member W in the radial direction from the first-tier guide position.
[0054] In this state, the stage of the motor 112 is moved rightward in Figs. 6A to 6D in
accordance with the rotation of the bobbin B. Thus, the wire-winding operation is
performed while the guide member 115 is regulating the winding position of the wire
member W, namely, while guiding the wire member such that the side surface of the
wire member W already wound in the second tier closely adheres to the side surface
of the wire member W about to be wound. In the similar manner, wire winding is performed
in the second and the third tiers. After the wire winding is performed up to a predetermined
number of tiers, and then the wire member W is fixed to an unillustrated holding apparatus
to be cut, thereby forming a coil.
[0055] According to the present reference example, by using the guide member 115, it is
possible to use an inexpensive bobbin B having the shape of a simple cylinder and
an outer periphery without peripheral grooves. Thus, it becomes possible to wind and
align the wire member W on the bobbin B with no gap therebetween and without the necessity
of using a thin film in order to produce a coil having good quality in outer appearance
and excellent characteristic.
[0056] Figs. 7A to 7B are diagrams illustrating a variation of the present reference example.
Also, in this variation, a guide member 115' and a bobbin B relatively move in synchronism
with the rotation of the bobbin B. Suppose that the direction of the arrow is a winding
direction in Fig. 7A, a support part 115b' of the guide member 115' is supported about
a pivot point 1 15c' at an inclined position in a counterclockwise direction in the
figure. At this time, the left side surface of a guide part 115a' of the guide member
115' in the figure contacts the right side surface of the wire member W, thereby performing
the guiding.
[0057] Thereafter, when the wound wire member W comes close to the right flange of the bobbin
B, the guide member 115' moves from the guide position to the retreat position (upward
from the page surface) in order to avoid contacting with the flange, thereby suspending
the guiding. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7B, the support part 115b' of the guide
member 1 15' located at the retreat position moves in the axial direction, also moves
to the guide position (downward to the page surface), and further moves to an inclined
position in a clockwise direction about the pivot point 11 5c' in the figure by using
the time difference while the wire member W is wound to the left flange and then is
folded back thereafter.
[0058] Thereby, the right side surface of the guide part 115a' of the guide member 115'
in the figure contacts the left side surface of the wire member W wound in the direction
of the arrow, and thus the subsequent guiding can be performed.
[0059] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating part of a wire-winding apparatus 120 according to
a first embodiment. In Fig. 8, the bobbin B is attached to the end of a rotational
shaft 122 of an unillustrated motor. However, the rotational shaft 122, which is a
(rotational) drive part, does not move in the axial direction. An XYZ movement mechanism
123 is provided close to the rotational shaft 122. The XYZ movement mechanism 123,
which is one of drive parts in the axial directions, has a stage 123z capable of moving
in the Z direction by a motor 123a, a stage 1 23y mounted on the stage 123z and capable
of moving in the Y direction by a motor 123b, and a stage 123x mounted on the stage
123y and capable of moving in the X direction by a motor 123c. In this regard, the
XYZ movement mechanism 1 23 is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure.
[0060] A cut-and-hold mechanism 124 and a guide member 125 are disposed on the stage 123x.
The cut-and-hold mechanism 124, which is a holding mechanism, has a pair of gripping
parts 124a, 124a capable of getting closer and separating with each other and an unillustrated
cutter, and has a function
of holding and cutting the wire member W. The guide member 125 is a knife-shaped plate
member formed by metal or ceramic, and has a rigidity higher than the second embodiment.
The guide member 125 is independent from the XYZ movement mechanism 123, and is movable
in the Z direction by the drive of an unillustrated air cylinder.
[0061] At the same time, an XYZ movement mechanism 133, which is another drive part in the
axial direction, has a stage 133z capable of moving in the Z direction by a motor
133a, a stage 133y mounted on the stage 133z and capable of moving in the Y direction
by a motor 133b, and an elongated stage 133x mounted on the stage 133y and capable
of moving in the X direction by a motor 133c. A nozzle N is attached to the end of
the stage 133x. In this regard, the XYZ movement mechanism 133 is also not limited
to the configuration shown in the figure.
[0062] A description will be given of the operation according to the present embodiment.
Here, suppose that a wire member W is supplied through a hollow nozzle N driven in
three dimensions by the XYZ movement mechanism 133. First, the guide member 125 is
moved to a retreat position, and the end of the wire member W supplied from the nozzle
N is gripped by the cut-and-hold mechanism 124. After that, the nozzle N moves around
any one of terminals T (here, the central) formed on the flange of the bobbin B, thereby
performing winding the wire member W around, namely binding to, the terminal T.
[0063] Thereafter, the cut-and-hold mechanism 124 releases the wire member W, and the wire
member W is wound on the outer periphery surface of the bobbin B by rotating the rotational
shaft 122. At this time, the nozzle N and the guide member 125 move to the guide position
(inside the diameter of the outer periphery of the flange) shown in Fig. 8. More specifically,
the nozzle N is moved in the axial direction using the XYZ movement mechanism 133
in accordance with the number of rotations of the bobbin B, and at the same time,
the XYZ movement mechanism 123 is controlled to be synchronized with the rotation
of the rotational shaft 122 (moved in the axial direction by the width of the wire
member W during one rotation) while holding the left side surface of the wire member
W by the right side surface of the guide member 125. Thereby, winding is performed
such that the side surface of the wire member W already wound on the outer periphery
surface of the bobbin B closely adheres to the side surface of the wire member W about
to be wound.
[0064] Furthermore, when the wire member W wound on the outer periphery surface of the bobbin
B comes close to the left flange, the guide member 125 is moved from the guide position
to the retreat position (not shown) more outward in the radial direction in order
to avoid contacting the flange. Thereafter, the folded wire member W is captured by
the guide member 125 which has moved from the retreat position to the guide position,
and the guiding can be subsequently performed in the same manner. In this regard,
since the outside diameter of a lower tier and the outside diameter of an upper tier
are different, it is desirable to adjust so as to separate the guide member 125 greater
distance from the outer periphery surface of the bobbin B as the wire member W is
wound in upper tier, thereby restraining the wire member W from being damaged.
[0065] When the wire winding is all completed, the nozzle N moves around a terminal T (for
example, the endmost) to perform a bind operation. Thereafter, the wire member W output
from the nozzle N is cut by the cut-and-hold mechanism 124 to complete the production
of the coil.
[0066] In this regard, the functions of the guide member 125 is not limited to the guide
of the wire member W. For example, in the case of winding a wire member W having a
high rigidity, after performing the binding operation, the wire member W might swell
due to its rigidity to protrude in the center of the bobbin B, thereby disarranging
the first winding. In such a case, as shown in Fig. 9, by moving the guide member
1 25 located at the guide position in the axial direction to push the swollen wire
member W on the side surface of the flange of the bobbin B, the initial position of
the wire member W is pressed, thereby making it possible to appropriately perform
the subsequent winding process.
[0067] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating part of a wire-winding apparatus 220 according
to a third reference example. After a regular-square wire is wound on a bobbin, etc.,
the end of the wire is bound up and cut, and then new winding is performed on another
bobbin. If the end is gripped without any regulation, there might cause disarrangement
of the next winding of the wire. The present embodiment can suppress such a problem.
[0068] In Fig. 10, the bobbin B is attached to the end of a rotational shaft 222 of an unillustrated
motor constituting a rotational drive part. However, the rotational shaft 222 does
not move in the axial direction. Furthermore, an XYZ movement mechanism 223 is provided
in order to hold a cut-and-hold mechanism 224 and to drive it in three dimensions.
The XYZ movement mechanism 223 has a stage 223z capable of moving in the Z direction
by a motor 223a, a stage 223y mounted on the stage 223z and capable of moving in the
Y direction by a motor 223b, and a stage 223x mounted on the stage 223y and capable
of moving in the X direction by a motor 223c.
[0069] In this regard, the XYZ movement mechanism 223 is not limited to the configuration
shown in the figure. Also, a guide member is omitted in the present reference example.
[0070] At the same time, another XYZ movement mechanism 233 has a stage 233z capable of
moving in the Z direction by a motor 233a, a stage 233y mounted on the stage 233z
and capable of moving in the Y direction by a motor 233b, and a shaft 233x mounted
on the stage 233y and capable of moving in the X direction by a motor 233c. A pulley
250 is attached to the end of the stage 233x. In this regard, the XYZ movement mechanism
233 is also not limited to the configuration shown in the figure. The XYZ movement
mechanisms 223 and 233 constitute drive means.
[0071] The cut-and-hold mechanism 224, which is a second holding mechanism, has a pair of
plate-like gripping parts 224a, 224a capable of getting closer and separating with
each other by the operation of an unillustrated air cylinder and an unillustrated
cutter. The cut-and-hold mechanism 224 holds both sides of the regular-square wire
member W by the gripping parts 224a, 224a and has a function of cutting the wire member
W.
[0072] The pulley 250, which is a first holding means, has a slightly wider width than the
wire width of the wire member
W and is positioned such that one surface of the wire member W faces to the outside
diameter in the state of the wire member W being wound. That is to say, the direction
of the side surface of the wire member W supplied from an unillustrated wire source
is regulated (held) by passing the pulley 250 and the direction of the side surface
thereof is regulated by being held by the cut-and-hold mechanism 224. Accordingly,
when the wire member W is held such that both side ends of the wire member W orthogonal
to the axis line of the pulley at the time of being wound on the pulley 250 contact
in face-to-face relationship with the gripping parts 224a, 224a, respectively, even
if the XYZ movement mechanisms 223 and 233 are independently moved thereafter, the
direction of the side surface of the wire member W is maintained. Thus, when the wire
member W is wound on the outer periphery surface of the bobbin B, the wire member
W will not be disarranged.
[0073] A more specific description will be given of the operation of the cut-and-hold mechanism
224. While the wire member W is being wound, the cut-and-hold mechanism 224 does not
hold the wire member W. After the winding is completed, the wire member W is gripped
between the gripping parts 224a, 224a therebetween in a state in which tension is
placedbetween the bobbin b and the pulley 250. At this time, both side ends of the
wire member W orthogonal to the axis line of the pulley at the time of being wound
on the pulley 250 contact in face-to-face relationship with the gripping parts 224a,
224a, respectively. In such a state, the XYZ movement mechanisms 223 and 233 are operated
to fix the wire member W in contact with the corner of the bottom surface of the bobbin
B and the inside surface of the flange (at least in a state in which the side surface
of the wire member W contacts the inside surface of the flange). In such a state,
the direction of the wire member W is kept without change. Thereafter, the XYZ movement
mechanisms 223 is independently operated, and the gripping parts 224a, 224a are rotated
and moved around a protrusion (not shown) of the bobbin as shown by an arrow (if a
slit is formed on the flange, the wire member W may be put into the slit). By the
above operation, the wire member W is wound on the protrusion, and thus the wire member
of the bobbin side B is cut by an unillustrated cutter.
[0074] Even if the gripping parts 224a, 224a independently move in this manner, the wire
member W is kept in a state of being fixed in contact with the corner of the bottom
of the bobbin B and the inside surface of the flange. Thus, the positional relationship
with both side surfaces of the wire member W orthogonal to the axis line of the pulley
at the time of being wound on the pulley 250 is not changed. Accordingly, it is possible
to prevent the disarrangement of the wire member W at winding time even if the binding
operation is performed from that state.
[0075] In this regard, the pulley 250 and the cut-and-hold mechanism 224 do not necessarily
need to be moved integrally, and may be moved separately. Also, the bobbin B may approach
the pulley 250 and the cut-and-hold mechanism 224. Furthermore, the first holding
means uses a pulley. However, a gripping member such as a cut-and-hold mechanism may
grip the wire member.
[0076] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the
embodiment. The present invention, however, should not be construed as being limited
to the embodiment described above. The present invention can be properly modified
and improved as a matter of course. For example, the present invention can be applied
to the case of a wire member having a circular cross section, namely, a circular wire.
Note that in the case of a regular-square wire, as shown in Figs. 4A to 4K, the outer
periphery of the wound wire becomes almost a cylindrical surface, and thus the guide
becomes necessary for the second tier and after. However, in the case of a circular
wire, when a first-tiered wire is arranged, it is possible to regularly wind a second-tiered
wire and after using the under-tiered wire as a guide. Thus, the guide of the first-tiered
wire becomes important in
particular. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a so-called multi-spindle
wire winding apparatus which performs wire winding on a plurality of bobbins at one
time.